The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has confirmed on Sunday, November 23 that four of the 16 individuals facing charges in connection with the controversial flood control project, including former Congressman Zaldy Co, are currently outside the Philippines.

The announcement comes after the Sandiganbayan issued warrants of arrest against Co and 15 others on November 21.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said that all immigration officers stationed at international airports and seaports nationwide have been placed on heightened alert.

“All individuals covered by the warrants have been encoded into the Bureau’s centralized derogatory database,” Viado said.

“This ensures that our frontline officers can immediately flag, verify, and respond should any of them attempt to depart from or enter the Philippines,” he added.

Travel records indicate that Co left for Singapore on August 6. Montrexis Tamayo, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Planning and Design Division, departed for Qatar on November 15.

Furthermore, Aderma Angelie Alcazar, President and Board Chairman of Sunwest Inc., flew to Australia on October 2, while Sunwest Inc. Treasurer Cesar Buenaventura left for the United Arab Emirates on the same day.

Viado assured the public that the BI is working closely with the Philippine National Police to ensure proper execution of the arrest warrants once these individuals return to the country.

“Close inter-agency coordination is essential to ensure that persons facing charges cannot evade accountability through unauthorized travel,” Viado added.

The BI reiterated that it remains committed to enforcing the law and preventing the departure or entry of individuals under investigation, emphasizing that the warrants will be executed promptly when the concerned parties present themselves at Philippine ports of entry.